Middlebury, Connecticut – August 15, 1946
On August 15, 1946, a 21-year-old pilot took off from Memphis, Tenn., in an army surplus AT-17 Cessna, twin-engine, trainer aircraft, bound for Watertown, Connecticut. The pilot had just purchased the plane, and was a former U. S. Army Air Force flight officer, and current manager of the Watertown Airport.
He arrived at Watertown safely, and after a brief stay, decided to fly the plane to New Haven where it was scheduled to be overhauled. While in route from Watertown one of the engines failed, and the pilot was forced to make a crash landing in a vacant field off Park Road in Middlebury. The field was located on the former Atwood Farm.
Although the aircraft suffered considerable damage, the pilot was not injured.
Source:
Waterbury Democrat, “City Pilot Crash-Lands New Plane On Farm Lot”, August 16, 1946
